09/01/2026
September is National Preparedness Month, and the City of Enterprise, Ala. is encouraging residents to take time this month to prepare themselves, their families and their communities for emergencies and disasters.
Sponsored by the FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency Ready Campaign, National Preparedness Month is an annual observance encouraging Americans to prepare for emergencies and disasters that can happen anywhere and at any time.
The 2026 theme, “American Stand Ready,” emphasizes the role individuals and families play in protecting themselves and their loved ones while contributing to the resilience of their communities.
Preparedness starts at home. Residents can take four basic steps to become better prepared:
🏠 Make a Plan. Talk with your household about what you will do during an emergency. Identify a safe place to meet, establish ways to stay in contact, assign responsibilities and practice how you will leave your home if evacuation becomes necessary. Be sure to include pets and account for any specific needs within your household.
🎒 Build a Kit. Put together an emergency supply kit with items your household may need if you are without power, water or access to stores for an extended period. Consider including nonperishable food and water, flashlights, extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, a first aid kit and portable phone chargers. Check supplies regularly and replace expired or outdated items.
📱 Stay Informed. Know where to get reliable information before and during an emergency. Sign up for local emergency alerts and follow trusted government and weather sources. Keep multiple ways to receive warnings, including wireless emergency alerts, NOAA Weather Radio and other emergency notification systems.
📍 Help Your Community. Preparedness extends beyond individual households. Learning basic first aid and CPR, knowing how to use a fire extinguisher and getting to know your neighbors are all ways residents can contribute to a more prepared and resilient community.
Residents who want to take their preparedness skills a step further can participate in the Coffee County (Alabama) Community Emergency Response Team (CC-CERT) training program.
CC-CERT training teaches participants essential emergency-response skills, including disaster preparedness, fire safety, triage, CPR and light search and rescue. Participants receive hands-on instruction in skills such as using fire extinguishers, practicing cribbing, identifying different levels of trauma, performing basic lifesaving techniques and using lifts and carries to move patients.
The value of that training extends beyond the classroom. CC-CERT volunteers have supported local emergency responders and officials during community emergencies, including searches for missing persons. In 2026, CC-CERT volunteers were among the personnel who supported the extensive search of the Coffee County landfill for missing Enterprise toddler Genesis Reid, working alongside law enforcement agencies, emergency responders, forensic specialists and other support personnel.
CC-CERT volunteers have also been incorporated into local preparedness efforts. In January, the City of Enterprise designated a local church as a Safer Place for use during qualifying severe weather or extreme-temperature events, with trained volunteers, including CC-CERT members, helping staff the facility when activated. The Enterprise Fire Department works with CC-CERT to provide training and operational support.
The next CC-CERT training sessions will be held November 6–7 and November 14 at Central Fire Station, 301 Plaza Drive. The cost to participate is $25 and includes an emergency response bag upon completion of the course. Participants must attend all required sessions to earn their certification. The training is open to a variety of ages and backgrounds; participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Residents interested in participating in CC-CERT training can contact CC-CERT Coordinator Scotty Johnson at (334) 806-1994 or [email protected].
